First Year

Applying to college is a thrilling experience and we’re excited that you’re considering the University of Georgia. We want to do everything we can to answer your questions, guide you through the admissions process, and introduce you to UGA.

In reviewing first-year applicants for admission, the University of Georgia sets no rigid standards for test scores or high school grade point averages that carry over from year to year. Admission is competitive as there are a limited number of spaces available in the first-year class. Admission standards depend on the number and quality of students who apply each year, thus varying accordingly.

Early Action or Regular Decision?

One of the most common questions our office receives is “Should I apply for Early Action or Regular Decision?”

The best way to answer that question is to rephrase it to: “Is my application ready now?”

Applicants for Early Action (EA) and Regular Decision (RD) undergo the same review process, which means that the choice is a matter of timing. Applicants ready to apply for Early Action are prepared to have their application for admission evaluated based on:

Grades through the end of junior year

Rigor of a student’s curriculum relative to the curriculum offered at his/her high school

Results of either the SAT or ACT taken AND requested by October 15th

Secondary consideration is given to the following factors:

Intellectual Pursuits

Creative Endeavors and Intercultural Experiences

Public Service

Co-curricular Activities

Community Involvement

Leadership and Family Commitments

Integrity and Personal Maturity

Why apply Early Action?

Early Action has an application deadline of October 15. Applying through Early Action allows students an expedited process to know an application decision sooner- typically before December 1. This gives students admitted in EA more time to explore UGA before the commitment deadline.

There are three possible decisions released for EA applicants: an offer of admission, a deferral of decision, or a denial of admission.

Students who receive a deferral of decision are academically competitive for admissions, and are deferred so that their application can undergo additional holistic review. We recommend that deferred students submit updated mid-senior year grades and any new SAT or ACT results that were not submitted previously.
Early Action and Regular Decision are both non-binding applications, meaning that we will not limit an applicant from applying in any way to another college, and if admitted, the student will have until May 1 to submit a commitment deposit.

Why apply Regular Decision?

Regular Decision provides applicants an opportunity to be reviewed at a later date in UGA’s admission cycle. This gives students additional time to add any updated test scores, include first semester senior year grades, and add any additional supporting documents.

Regular Decision has a deadline of January 1. Decisions are typically released in mid-March and students have until May 1 to submit a commitment deposit.

The Primary Factor in Admission Decisions at UGA

“Demonstrated academic achievement” is the primary factor in first-year admission decisions at the University of Georgia. The academic review of first-year applications centers on three criteria: the student’s grade point average (GPA) in core academic courses, the rigor of a student’s course selection, and his or her best combination of scores on the SAT or ACT.

Additionally, all applications are reviewed for conduct issues; recommendations; satisfactory completion of all courses and completion of the required College Preparatory courses. Grades from high school and rigor of school curriculum make up about 75% of our prediction of academic success at UGA with standardized exams comprising the remaining quarter. Effectively, this means that a student with a 4.0 GPA in a superior curriculum of Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses might be admitted with an SAT score at or below 1000. Yet, another student with a 3.0 GPA and an SAT score of 1400 might not be admitted, if the student opted for no more than a standard college prep curriculum with few if any Honors, AP or IB courses.First Year Admission Criteria

Additional Factors in Admission Decisions

UGA’s Faculty Admissions Committee has identified a number of additional factors that may be considered in admission decisions or merit scholarship consideration. These include: excellence in academic achievement, intellectual pursuits, and creative endeavors; an understanding of and respect for intellectual, social, and cultural differences; significant commitment to citizenship through public service, school activities, community involvement, leadership, and/or family; evidence of integrity and personal maturity; and the ability to benefit from and contribute to a culturally and intellectually diverse community of scholar-citizens. A more detailed description of the first-year admission process at UGA can be found under First-Year Admission Criteria. All first-year candidates who are offered admission for Summer or Fall semester must submit a non-refundable commitment deposit no later than May 1 to secure a seat in the first-year class. Commitment deposits will be credited towards students’ accounts at the beginning of the Fall semester.

To apply to the University of Georgia, you will need to provide:
– UGA Application or MyCoalition Application
– Application Fee
– Transcript from your graduating high school
– SAT/ACT scores
– Secondary School Report/Counselor Recommendation
– Teacher/Other Letter of Recommendation